Christmas in July Sale.  All patterns 25% off all month long.  Order by phone, email, or use convenient Google Checkout.

Stock up for the next camp, birthday, hooking weekend, or for all of next winter.

Not valid with gift certificates or any other discounts.  If you are using Google Checkout, the discount will be taken at the time the order is shipped and charged.

Our Virtual Clubhouse

The Hooked, Line and Sinker Club is on Facebook.  Join us for discussions on hooking and dyeing hints, gatherings, shows, and general stuff.    Stop in to browse other hooker's art or post yours for all to admire.

A Rug Hooking Poem

Quoted from Pearl McGown's book, The Lore and Lure of Hooked Rugs published in 1966:

"When one teacher brought her book of life to a close, a member of her family wrote this delightful poem:

Letter of Introduction (for a Rug Teacher)

You needn't bother to fit her with wings,

But please get together the following things:

One frame (a harp without strings will do);

Could someone fashion a hook or two

From a moulted feather? A square of sky

Will serve as burlap; she'll need some dye

(Your sunsets fade, but I'm sure she could use

A second-hand rainbow) and let her choose

Some ragged old clouds, she won't want new ones.

She'll bleach and then dye the gray or blue ones

With the patience of one of Your boys named Job,

Thank You so much, and hang on to Your Robe!

                -Mary Anspach Simon"

A Letter from Camp...

I've posted some photos on the Hooked, Line and Sinker Club facebook page from the Off the Ocean Rug Conference in Jacksonville, Florida.  If you are not inclined to join facebook, let me tell you a great story from camp. 

Two sisters came from Atlanta to shop for a wedding dress with their mom and stayed at the same hotel.  Through the week, they were curious about what we were doing, and on the day of the rug show they went in to browse.

I had brought "Born and Breaded in the South" to display.  They caught sight of it and wanted to know if I'd sell it.  It reminded them of their dad.  Now, before I tell you why, just go back to the "Comforts of Home" section, click on the photo to enlarge it and look at the piece...carefully.

He always wore a blue baseball cap, Atlanta Braves.  He was always in overalls and a flannel shirt with his sleeves rolled up to the elbows.  In fact, one of the sisters had his shirt in her closet that was just like that one. The eerie part is that their dad had lost his right ear in an auto accident when the youngest was three. 

I was so pleased to see these dear people connect with their husband and dad as they were preparing for the wedding, I knew they had to have the rug!  Needless to say, I made sure that the rug wasn't very expensive.  And, oh, by the way, when she went to write the check she said, "Today is his birthday.  He would have been 78."

I used to think that I hooked for me...... 

Way to go, Sister!

Please join me in congratulating Laura Kenyon for being chosen a finalist in Celebrations 2010.  Her rug entitled "Blue Moon" will be displayed at Sauder Village this August and of course seen in next year's edition of "Celebration of Hand Hooked Rugs".  I posted an unfinished photo of the rug in the gallery until she sends me a better photo -Deb Walland

Another Backing Choice

Verel, or synthetic homespun, is a polyester backing known for it's incredible wearability.  It is popular for proddy or hooked designs because makes an attractive background when it is left unhooked. Jackye Hansen used it often on her silk screened patterns and we have had more requests for it lately. 

So, we are pleased to offer it as a special order at no extra charge. It now available in several color choices.  We have a light natural beige, light blue, and even Christmas green and red! It is not listed as a backing choice when you use Google Check-out. Please send Laura an email with your request or better yet, call her to discuss your project and she can make suggestions.

Kits Available
Many of the small pieces are available as kits, especially the Christmas pieces.  If  I only have one or two of a kind, they aren't listed on the website.  Just call or email me and I'll see if the piece you like is available as a kit.


Words of Wisdom

To paraphrase Groucho Marx:  Outside of a dog, a hooking project is a girl's best friend.  Inside a dog it's too dark to hook.

"Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children."--Unknown

"Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible."--Dalai Lama

Just starting out as a newbie hooker?  One thing you will want is a frame. If you have lived in a hooking household, or you have good friends, borrow one.  If you do need to buy one, consider a quilting hoop to start out with.  You may never need to buy an expensive frame, or at least you can put it off for a while. Many hookers try other frames and go back to the hoop. One caveat:  Don't be cheap and try an embroidery hoop like I did for my first project. Too flimsy. 

One of the biggest advantages of rug hooking over needlepoint or embroidery is how much space you can cover so quickly, so don't buy a small diameter hoop.  If it is too small you'll be repositioning your work way too often.

Next, change out the screw for a much longer one.  A hooked piece is quite thick whether hooking with wool strips or yarn.  You'll need the extra length on the screw as you start to anchor hooked areas between the hoops. There you go...

Our patterns are all available on Monks cloth, linen, and rug warp.  We know that hookers choose their backing by what they want to work on, not what it costs.  We don't want anyone hooking a pattern on a backing that they don't like because it costs less.  So, we have never charged a premium for linen.

When you order a linen pattern from us, we routinely use unbleached linen.  Many other pattern makers use bleached linen because it is easier to transfer the pattern but unbleached is actually a little stronger. If for any reason, you don't like the unbleached, we have a some bleached linen available.  Just let us know that you prefer it when you place the order.

Rug warp is great for geometric designs because it is the only backing where the holes are perfectly square and the thread count is the same vertically and horizontally.  It is a little stiff and will only tolerate up to a #5 cut.

Monks cloth is good for all cuts.  It moves easily to accommodate all but the largest width strips.  For fine shading, it is great because it will allow you to add just a few loops almost anywhere you want them to go.

Punch Needle Patterns

All of our patterns can be drawn in reverse to use the punch needle.   Just ask...same speedy service!

LINKS to our favorite Suppliers, Artists, and Associations

Gene Shepherd is one the most talented rug hookers we know.  He has a blog attached to his website, GeneShepherd.com/blog1/ .  He has instructions on finishing pillows, finishing brick doorstops, and all kinds of incredible photos from the West Coast rug hooking world.  You have to visit regularly!

ATHA - www.atharugs.com - Association of Traditional Hooking Artists -The goal of publishing both the ATHA Newsletter and this ATHA Website is to inform and educate members and, soon-to-be members about rug hooking happenings around the world. We are a close-knit group (all 3500 of us)! We travel, and we love to stop in and visit rug hooking shops, teachers, designers, groups, rug shows, etc. We often plan a trip JUST to work in a visit or two with a new friend, an ATHA Chapter or school. Our Resource link gives travelers information on where to locate teachers, designers, rug hooking studios and shops.

Dorr Mill Store - wonderful wools  www.dorrmillstore.com

1840 House,  Jackye Hansen - our Mentor and Designer www.rughookersnetwork.com/teacher_directory

National Guild of the Pearl McGown Hookrafters - The purpose of the National Guild of Pearl K. McGown Hookrafters Inc. is to educate and inform the public about the craft of rug hooking. We hope that you will enjoy exploring more information about the craft  www.mcgownguild.com